Free Republic

America has declined backing a UN General Assembly resolution condemning the eulogizing of Nazism. For a member of the anti-Hitler coalition, the American position, mildly speaking, is bewildering. It can be seen as consigning to oblivion the past and sacrifices of all those who gallantly fought against fascism to save Europe from the so-called brown plague. It is not by accident that the Russian foreign ministry has already expressed regrets over the U.S.'s shameful action, for in the adopted resolution supported by 130 U.N members, concern is expressed over the increase in the number of extremist groups preaching racism and...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has carried out a radical government reshuffle a year before he is due to step down in a surprise move aimed at safeguarding his political legacy. Judging by Mr Putin's appointments, post-Putin Russia will look very much like it does today and be run by a man with a similar background and worldview. The reshuffle, that took Russia's political élite by surprise, promoted Sergei Ivanov, the Defence Minister, a man whose CV looks remarkably similar to Mr Putin's, to the influential position of First Deputy Prime Minister. Mr Ivanov, a former KGB spy, is well...

In Soviet times, to challenge the state was to risk one's freedom and one's life. But is it any different now in the new world of oligarchs and opulence? Here, Russia's best-known cultural journalist, Artemy Troitsky, fears for his country's future   At least in Brezhnev's time you knew where you stood. We had no illusions. Public life was black and white. Censorship was overwhelming. Journalists wrote under instruction and according to the social and political orders of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Now, in the new Russia of sushi bars and oligarchs, the situation is more shameful...

LAS VEGAS -- After years of demoralizing political failures, Democrats have turned to the Internet for electoral salvation. The heartbeat of this liberal "netroots" movement is gathering this weekend at an aging gambling house in hopes of plotting a political recovery for Democrats and the party's top elected leaders -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California -- will participate. Hosted by the powerful liberal blog Daily Kos (www.dailykos.com), attendees will wrestle with tough tasks such as "Winning in the States" and debate whether Democrats really need to appeal to the South...

LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union may try to draw up a media code of conduct to avoid a repeat of the furor caused by the publication across Europe of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, an EU commissioner said on Thursday. In an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph, EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini said the charter would encourage the media to show "prudence" when covering religion. "The press will give the Muslim world the message: We are aware of the consequences of exercising the right of free expression," he told the newspaper. "We can and we are ready...